# indefinite

/ˌɪnˈdɛfənət/ (US) · /ɪndˈɛfɪnət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indefinite
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. without a fixed end date

adjective · CEFR B2

lasting for an unknown amount of time, or until someone decides to stop it.

For teachers: lasting for an unknown or unstated length of time; not having a fixed end point.

- The workers went on an indefinite strike until their pay was increased.
- The government announced an indefinite suspension of the peace talks, citing a complete breakdown in communication between the two delegations.

### 2. vague or unclear

adjective · CEFR B2

not clear or not exact in meaning.

For teachers: not clearly defined or determined; vague or ambiguous in nature.

- She gave an indefinite answer because she wasn't sure what she wanted to do.
- The boundaries of the new district remained indefinite, leading to several legal disputes between neighbouring municipalities.

### 3. grammar: not specific

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

used to describe words like 'a', 'an', or 'some' that do not point to one specific person or thing.

For teachers: designating an unidentified or non-specific person, thing, or quantity.

- In the sentence 'I saw a cat', 'a' is an indefinite article.
- The student struggled to distinguish between definite and indefinite pronouns when translating complex sentences from their native language.

Usage: Commonly used in the terms 'indefinite article' or 'indefinite pronoun'.

### 4. math: without limits

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

used in math to describe a calculation that does not have specific start and end numbers.

For teachers: relating to an integral without specified limits of integration.

- The teacher asked the class to solve an indefinite integral for homework.
- The calculus exam required students to derive several indefinite integrals before moving on to applied physics problems.

### 5. a non-specific word

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a word that does not refer to a specific person or thing.

For teachers: a linguistic element, such as a pronoun or article, that does not specify a particular referent.

- Words like 'anybody' and 'someone' are examples of indefinites.
- The linguist argued that the use of indefinites in the witness's testimony suggested a lack of certainty regarding the suspect's identity.

## Examples

- The workers went on an indefinite strike.
- The project has been put on hold for an indefinite period while the board reviews the budget.
- The treaty was extended for an indefinite duration, reflecting the signatories' commitment to a long-term peace process without the pressure of a looming expiration date.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.